Church - What Should I Look For In A Church Before Joining?

The context of that was the Jerusalem Concil, first and foremost, to discuss extra biblical mandates being pressed...

1 Some men (A) came down from Judea and began to teach the brothers: "Unless you are circumcised (B) according to the custom prescribed by Moses, (C) you cannot be saved!" 2 But after Paul and Barnabas had engaged them in serious argument and debate, they arranged for Paul and Barnabas and some others of them to go up to the apostles and elders in Jerusalem concerning this controversy.

Notice they went to the "elders"...plural. James' quote was not a declaration either.

19 Therefore, in my judgment, we should not cause difficulties for those who turn to God from among the Gentiles, 20 but instead we should write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, (P) from eating anything that has been strangled, and from blood.

This was a gathering of leadership, not a single leader declaring his authority on the local church.

 

The folks in Japan have got to have their KJV for a good door stop because they cannot read it. Those who read the KJV have always been able to change the world. After all, most of the early Christians could not read so they must have been pagans because the world is going to hell because it does not read the KJV.

 

Hello again webdog

I am very familiar with this passage, but you have shown me, that I may need to look at it even closer.

Anyway, I am always carful, not to forget, that a pastor is just the Spiritual leader of the Church, but Christ is the Head.

So I had better back off.

 

Yes, it was a gathering of the congegation.

 

I have looked for a church in the last few, and this is about the way it is.

 

I own a kjv.

I love my kjv.

I love Jesus.

Jesus loves me.

I also own an amplified. I love my amplified.

I love Jesus. Jesus loves me.

I also own a number of other Bibles.

And I have a relationship with Christ.

 

To find a true church is the "TR" church where you look for doctrinal sounds and spiritual growth.

 

And of course, non-TR churches are not true churches, right?

 

Look for a church seeking a pastor and with only one potential member. You will never experience differences of opinion, faulty music or even lengthy sermons..................oh, stop it, Jim!

Cheers,

Jim

 

BUT!! In what order did you own or recieve the other Bibles?:saint:

 

Do you mean one of the "Us four and no more" churches?

 

Sort of that idea,,"Us four and no more."

As soon as I enter a church, it is just another sinner-saved-by-His-grace casting shadows on the wall. I am an open target for anyone who cares to see my sin and ignore my redeemed soul. For anyone to see my wrinkled shirt and creased trousers, my gray hair and halted walk. They soon learn, however, that I am but one of them, called of God to preach His word despite my sins, despite my poor estate, despite my shortcomings. They must learn to look higher as we all must do as we enter hallowed halls of His presence and glory.

It is then that we can find comfort in any church that remains true to His word despite the label outdoors.

Cheers,

Jim

 

Jim, can I adopt you as a Grandpa? I enjoy your insight and humor.

 

As one that has pastored a few churches, when ever I visit or preach in another church, I always look for where the "power structure" is sitting.

You know the ones, they were members before Christ started the church.

They sit together in the auditorium and all of the oxygen around them gets sucked out of the room.

You know, the guy that will have a masonic lodge tie tac that is bigger than the state of Texas. It lies flat on the top of his Boss Hogg belly.

Yes, he is the one responsible for the cornerstone on the auditorium with the masonic symbol on it that has embarrassed every pastor that they bought, I mean brought to the church.

He is the one that when you preach against the "pet sin" of that church, every head in the auditorium, with mouth agape and eyes bugging out of their heads, turn and look at.

He will be the one that makes a big show of opening his coat like he is opening the door on a 1948 Buick, and removes the large envelope with the "love offering" in it.

Oh yeah, you know that guy, don't you! Oh yeah, you have preached in that church, I just know it!:smilewinkgrin:

I am not venting. I am just saying...

 

I am aware of one church, where one of the deacons told the new pastor, "Now preacher, whenever you want to do something new, if you'll check with me first, I can save you a lot of problems."

He didn't say, run it past the deacons first, he said run it past ME first.

My first reaction to this story was negative. Then I got to thinking. Sometimes, a new pastor might do well to take the old deacon up on his offer. Not every deacon is on a power trip.

 

We once had a Deacon, er, um, Deacon's wife who turned her hearing aid all the way down during the preaching and filed her nails.

 

One of the largest congregations I enjoyed was one week when I announced the sermon title on the billboard outdoors: "The Biggest Sinner in Town Exposed Tonight at 7M"

Cheers,

Jim

 

This is one of the reasons that NT deacons are not in charge, they are to serve. Churches will do so much better when deacons realize they are not the ones who are on top of the ladder but they are suppose to be the ones at the bottom that hold the ladder for everyone else.

 

Quote: We once had a Deacon, er, um, Deacon's wife who turned her hearing aid all the way down during the preaching and filed her nails.
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I guess that's why the modern churches introduced the picture screens to the sanctuary.

Cheers,

Jim

 

Sometimes one person can have such an influence that most everyone listens to that person.